Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1054. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the installation of CO2 monitoring in schools; the expected timeframe for the full completion of the project; the expected benefit of the monitoring scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40890/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe.

The Department has updated its guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools.

This was done at the end of May and followed on from work done centrally by an expert group that was looking at the role of ventilation in managing Covid-19.

A copy of the guidance is published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.

The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.

The guidance outlines the role that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.

In this regard, the Department is procuring a number of portable monitors which will be distributed to all schools in August and September – between 2 and 20 at primary level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary level depending on school size. This will ensure that a CO2 monitor will be available for use in every classroom in Ireland.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1055. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a fully open, transparent and advertised tender scheme for the provision of CO2 monitoring equipment in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40891/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 14 June 2020 the Department of Education and Skills published a Request for Information (RFI) to identify PPE, Consumables and Equipment Suppliers to support the education sector. This procurement was managed as a negotiated procedure under Article 32 for the 2016 Procurement Regulations in order to secure supplies in time to reopen the sector’s schools and institutions.

The process identified a number of suppliers that are capable of providing the suite of products required by the Government’s Roadmap for the Full Return to School and this is considered the most favourable solution to meet the aggregated needs of the number and geographic spread of educational institutions – including schools – right across the State. That procurement process concluded in July 2020 with supply agreements signed and the award notice published.

CO₂monitors for distribution across schools in advance of (and during) the forthcoming academic year, including output performance specifications, quantities and delivery requirements, have been procured by the Department following a competitive process under the PPE, Consumables and Equipment Supplier Framework.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1056. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the proposed CO2 monitoring equipment in schools will allow for the full recording, storage and assessment of all the collected data; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40892/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A copy of the guidance is published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.

The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.

The guidance outlines the role that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.

In this regard, the Department is procuring a number of portable monitors which will be distributed to schools in August and September – between 2 and 20 at primary level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary level depending on school size. This will ensure that a CO2 monitor will be available for use in every classroom in Ireland.

Data logging is a feature of the CO2 monitors being provided. The CO2 monitor will log a reading every 15mins. 30 days of historical data will be available to the school authority which can be downloaded using a free computer application.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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1057. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the provision of mechanical ventilation and air filtration in schools will be considered by her Department; if the opening of school windows will remain the only ventilation option for most schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40898/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Managing ventilation is just one of a suite of public health measures in place to keep our schools safe.

The provision of ventilation is an integral component of the Departments’ technical guidelines, specifically TGD 020 which can be accessed on the Department’s website:

www.education.ie/en/School-Design/Technical-Guidance-Documents/Current-Technical-Guidance/pbu_tgd_020_rev2_nov2017.pdf.

Furthermore the Department has updated its guidance for schools on Practical Steps for the Deployment of Good Ventilation Practices in Schools. This was done at the end of May and followed on from work done centrally by an expert group that was looking at the role of ventilation in managing Covid-19.

A copy of the guidance is published at www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad236-guidance-on-ventilation-in-schools/.

The over-arching approach in the guidance is for schools to have windows open as fully as possible when classrooms are not in use (e.g. during break-times or lunch-times and also at the end of each school day) and partially open when classrooms are in use.

The guidance outlines the role that Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) monitors can play a part in providing a useful general indication that areas/rooms may not be adequately ventilated and can enable occupants to become familiar with the impact of activities, outdoor weather and window openings on levels of good ventilation.

In this regard, the Department is procuring a number of portable monitors which will be distributed to schools in August and September – between 2 and 20 at primary level and between 20 and 35 at post-primary level depending on school size. This will ensure that a CO2 monitor will be available for use in every classroom in Ireland.

It is also worth noting that CO₂ monitors are already provided for in new school building projects completed from 2019 onwards as mandated in TGD -033 which can be accessed on the Department’s website:

www.education.ie/en/School-Design/Technical-Guidance-Documents/Current-Technical-Guidance/bu_tgd_033.pdf.